Chapter 9

Ruby watched Parker mix the green onions and pineapple in with the cream cheese. She hadn’t let it soften long enough, and Parker’s muscles flexed with each attempt to mix the ingredients together. She turned her attention back to the cups of yogurt parfait she was assembling in layers. Parker hadn’t complained last night when she gave him a long list of ingredients and supplies they’d need. He hadn’t asked her to come with him again, which left her both disappointed and relieved.

Ruby couldn’t have gone, of course. Besides the fact that she was at the daycare for most of the day, Parker needed to take his car to fit all the groceries in the trunk, and that would have brought up yet another conversation that Ruby didn’t want to have.

She liked to pretend that her inability to ride in cars was perfectly natural and didn’t interfere with her life. Ruby purposely lived close enough to work and the store that she could usually pile up what she needed in her bike basket. If she needed something larger, Sam or Zoe were nice enough to pick it up for her.

But it still gnawed at Ruby. She knew she couldn’t go on this way forever. Grief was natural, but living in constant fear like this? Ruby felt like she was decaying from the inside out.

“How does that look?” Parker asked, tilting the bowl for Ruby to see.

She leaned over to get a better look. “It looks perfect. You’ll just need to chop up a few walnuts and roll the cheeseball in them, then that will be one less thing we need to worry about.”

“Aye aye, captain,” Parker said, giving Ruby a quick salute.

She smiled. She hadn’t been sure about spending so much time with Parker, but she was actually enjoying it. Ruby pulled out the plastic wrap and attempted to tear off a piece for Parker to wrap the cheeseball in. Every time she tried, though, it just stuck to itself and ended up in a ball that she had no hope of undoing.

“Why does this stuff only stick when it’s not supposed to?” she complained as she threw another ball of plastic into the garbage can.

“It’s all about patience and precision,” Parker said, walking up behind her.

Ruby’s breath hitched as his arms moved in from behind her and he took the box. “You think you will have better luck?” she whispered.

Parker pulled the plastic out, Ruby still trapped between his arms. “Don’t underestimate a bachelor who has way too much time on his hands,” he said. “You’d be amazed at how many things this stuff can do, most of which have nothing to do with cooking.”

“Oh yeah, like what?” Ruby asked, not sure she wanted to know.

“Have you ever wrapped a toilet in this stuff?” Parker asked, his response shattering any ‘moment’ Ruby thought they were sharing.

“I don’t think I have,” Ruby said, ducking under Parker’s arm.

He glanced sideways at her, disappointment flickering in his features, but then quickly morphing into a teasing smile. “Just make sure you aren’t home when your roommate discovers the plastic wrap. And make sure you leave plenty of cleaning wipes nearby.”

Ruby slapped a hand to her forehead. “Gross. Can we change the subject?”

Parker laughed, but then his frown reemerged. Ruby leaned over and saw that he too had a giant ball of plastic in his hand. “Seriously, why did they even invent this stuff?”

She rested a hand on his shoulder. “Not so confident in your abilities now?”

Parker placed a hand on top of Ruby’s. “I will slay the beast for thee, my lady.”

“Oh man, that was almost as cheesy as the cheeseball we’re trying to wrap,” Ruby said. She laughed, but it was mostly to hide what Parker’s touch did to her. His hand lingered on hers, and Ruby forced herself to step away.

This couldn’t happen—whatever ‘this’ was. She was too messed up to start something new right now, besides the fact that Parker was only visiting for a couple more days. She knew that other girls, Zoe in particular, thought a fling would do Ruby some good, but that wasn’t how Ruby did things. She was a commitment kind of girl, and she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

“I want to ask you a question,” Parker said abruptly, spinning toward Ruby. His eyes held excitement, and they made her nervous.

“All right, but I don’t guarantee an answer,” she said.

“You promised you’d go out with me, right?”

Ruby nodded. “Yes.” Where was Parker going with this?

“But I didn’t specify how long the date would be, right?”

Okay, he was definitely up to something. “I guess not,” Ruby said. “I assumed it would be the average-length dinner and a movie.”

“But we’ve already done a dinner and movie date a couple nights ago, so we should probably mix things up,” Parker pointed out.

Ruby took a step back. “We never actually watched the movie, remember? I ended up sobbing on you.”

Parker held up a finger to protest, but then shrugged. “That’s true, but not the point.”

“And what exactly is the point?” Ruby asked. “You’re taking a while to get there.”

Parker’s body bounced with a silent chuckle. “Maybe I’m taking my time because I’m nervous you’ll say no.”

Ruby’s heart skipped, and she said, “Why would I say no?”

Parker went quiet for a moment. “Because I’d like you to go away with me. For the weekend.”

Ruby found her voice again. “You were right to be worried.”

“It’s not that kind of going away,” Parker said quickly. “I’m going to the hot air balloon festival up north on Friday, and I didn’t know if you’ve ever been. I figured it would be a lot more fun than what I could come up with here.”

That was the day after the baby shower, so technically she could—

“No.” Uh-uh. Not going to happen. Even if Ruby wanted to go away with Parker—which she didn’t—there was the whole matter of having to drive in a car to get there. And having to watch hot air balloons, which were just another way to die a horrible death. Flashbacks of arriving at the plane crash site where they had pulled Clark’s body out of the smoking, twisted metal overwhelmed Ruby. And that poor pilot—the pilot who should have been her—and the dogs…

Parker must have noticed the sudden change because he asked, “Are you okay?” He took her hand. “I’m sorry I asked. You’re right, we can come up with something else in Amor.”

Ruby didn’t answer, and only barely managed to nod in acknowledgment.

* * *. *. *

Pink balloons bobbed from every chair and table leg, a banner that announced It’s a Girl! hung across the entryway, and crepe paper streamers looped across the ceiling. In summary, Ruby’s living room looked like a pink piñata had thrown up all over it.

“I better sneak out before all the ladies arrive,” Parker said. “But I have to say, this is going to be the most epic baby shower they’ve ever seen.”

“You could stick around for it and enjoy the fruits of your labor,” Ruby teased, imagining him sitting in the midst of all that estrogen.

Parker’s jaw dropped in mock horror. “I’m not sure I would escape,” he said. He held up a plate Ruby had put together for him. “I think I’ll just take my food and run.”

“Suit yourself,” Ruby said. “Are we still on for our date tomorrow night?”

Parker nodded. “Definitely. I have to leave first thing the next morning, so is it all right if I pick you up right after you close up the daycare?”

Ruby hesitated. “How about if I meet you?”

Parker narrowed his eyes. “Last time we had that plan, you didn’t show up.”

Ruby threw her arms into the air. “You’re still going on about that?”

“It’s a traumatic thing for a teenage boy.”

“I promise I will show up,” Ruby said, holding out her pinky finger.

Parker stared at her outstretched hand. “A pinky promise?”

“The most solemn of oaths,” Ruby said, trying to stay serious.

“All right,” Parker said, taking her pinky in his. “But if you break a pinky promise, I’m pretty sure hellfire and damnation await you.”

“I guess I better show up then,” Ruby said, not able to fight a smile any longer. A car door slammed out front and Ruby reluctantly retracted her hand.

“That’s my cue to go,” Parker said. “I’ll text you where to meet me tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Ruby said as he opened the front door.

“Oh, by the way, you really should put some sort of password on your phone,” he said with a wink.

After the front door closed behind him, Ruby grabbed her phone off the counter. No calls had been made, but when she looked at her text messages, she saw one had been sent to Parker, though she hadn’t been the one to do it. He must have swiped her phone when she hadn’t been looking. She clicked on the message to see what she had supposedly sent to him.

Hey Parker, it’s Ruby. I can’t wait to go on our date tomorrow night. You have such chiseled and handsome features, I don’t care what we do, as long as I’m with you. XOXO.

With a laugh, Ruby texted Parker a second message.

Who still uses XOXO?

For once, Ruby was glad she hadn’t bothered to update her security features. She waited for Parker’s response and was disappointed when it didn’t appear right away. She had to remind herself that he was driving and it was good that he wasn’t the type to text and drive.

Ruby heard the front door open and she slipped the phone into her back pocket.

“Hey,” Zoe said, walking in with a present that was half her size. “Where do you want this?”

“On the table by the cake,” Ruby said, nodding toward the kitchen.

Zoe set the present down. “Ooh…the cake turned out great. I love the booties on it.”

Ruby couldn’t look at the cake and not think of Parker, and what she would have missed this week if she hadn’t been at the bakery at the same time as him. Even if it was short-lived, Ruby had to admit that she’d enjoyed spending time with him.

Zoe spun around and took in the room. “Holy Hannah, this place looks awesome.” She placed her hands on her hips. “This must have taken forever. You should have called and asked me to help.”

Ruby shrugged. “Most of it was done last night.” She almost told Zoe about Parker helping her, but then decided to just leave it alone. Zoe would read more into it and get way more excited than would be good for either of them.

“Well, it looks amazing,” Zoe said. She pulled Ruby in close. “I know it must be hard for you, considering…you know. But I think this is a good thing for you.”

Ruby blinked. “How is planning someone else’s baby shower a good thing for me?”

“You know…helping you move past the…well, the past,” Zoe said, though she now seemed unsure whether she had said the wrong thing.

“Yeah…sure,” Ruby said, realizing now that no one understood. They all wanted to help her get past her issues, but no one had a clue what she needed or how to help. Including her best friend and brother, the people who knew her best. Heck, maybe she didn’t even know what she needed.

The next couple of hours passed in a blur. Katie arrived, looking more pregnant, but happier, than ever. Ruby rushed up to Katie and gave her a hug, then led her to a giant plush chair covered in streamers—the seat of honor. Just because Ruby was having a hard time didn’t mean she had the right to ruin it for her sister-in-law and their other guests.

Ruby was glad they’d simplified the food—they still had plenty. But about the time everyone was given baby bottles filled with apple juice and they had to see who could drink theirs the fastest…that was when Ruby broke.

Smiling as she backed out of the room, everyone looking ridiculous as they sucked on baby bottles, she ran the last few steps into her bedroom and locked the door behind her. Sinking to the floor, her breathing heavy, Ruby pulled out her phone. A message from Parker waited for her.

The real question is, who doesn’t still use XOXO?

Ruby had already made up her mind, but this solidified it. With trembling fingers, she punched in the letters.

I’m not going to be able to meet you for our date tomorrow night.

No more than half a second later, Ruby’s phone chimed.

???

Ruby shook her head. She was such an idiot sometimes. Parker probably thought she was trying to bail on him again.

I should have been clearer. I’m going with you to the balloon festival. When do we leave?

Rather than chiming with a new text, Ruby’s phone sang the Indiana Jones theme. Sucking in a deep breath, she answered it.

“Hi.”

“You’re serious?” Parker asked.

Ruby nodded, but then remembered he couldn’t see her. “Yeah.”

“What changed your mind?”

“I just—” What was powerful enough to drive her into a weekend with Parker Loveland, and not only that, but in a car for an extended period of time to a hot air balloon festival? It was pretty much all the things Ruby feared, all rolled into one. “I can’t take it anymore,” Ruby said. “I need to get away from it all.”

“Shall I pick you up from work tomorrow night? We’ll get in a bit late, but it’s only three hours away.”

“Actually, can we leave first thing in the morning?” Ruby asked. She didn’t think she could make it through another day, stuck in Amor. She hadn’t left for four years, and she needed out. As soon as possible.

“What about the daycare?” Parker asked.

“I have a couple assistants that can handle it, and Sam will be there for part of the day as well.”

“Okay, great,” Parker said. “I’ll plan on picking you up at nine. Is that all right?”

“That’s perfect.”

A knock sounded on the door and Ruby ended the call. She smoothed down her hair before opening the door. Zoe stood there, her brow wrinkled in concern.

“You doing okay?”

“Yeah,” Ruby said. “I just needed a little space. I’m good now, though.”

She walked out of the bedroom to rejoin the group, feeling better than she had in years.